A New Year Approaches + Snippets

Hullo there everyone.. 

Well, another new year approaches - doesn't it?
Something which we all face with varying amounts of interest, planning or concern etc. mostly depending on how preceding one has past.

A new year - 365 days in which to serve our Lord, should He give them to us.

This year has been mixed. I think most of us say that.. the high was the wonderful trip over seas which have yet to share much about - to see my family... and then ended with number of medical necessities, not quite so wonderful! 

I still have stitches this time in right calf as it was positive there also... but it is easy peasy compared to hands and feet!! give me limbs any day!!!

Here are some pickies from Boxing day from my sister's beach home, front verandah, they live overlooking the beach and wake up to this view everyday!
Photos taken on mobile, here are some Galahs and Seagulls at bird bath:

This bright and beautiful Bromeliad in courtyard was our Christmas tree this year as it was a bright and colourful as one! and even had wee white fairy lights on it in the blooms! if you look up close!

Also it time to share a card - here is one I actually made with Snippets so can enter it in Di's Snippets challenge. This card was made quickly, as I wanted one on Christmas day! 

I had the Spellbinder Medallion dies already cut in gorgeous Magenta Mirri card in Snippets pile, also with DST in perfect colour combo with piece from another card, perfectly with wee gift card which came in post! So cut it up attached and mounted, add wee bling, and voilà!

Another thing  I hope, next year,  God willing, in the new year apart from sharing the superb blessings while away, is to show more of calligraphy past! Calligraphy was on back burner this year apart from one done in March. Still awaiting next cataract surgery but will show as have heaps of others I have to share there!!

In 2013, may we look to our LORD, praying for His hand on each moment of each day and also on us, keeping us till He comes! 

God bless your day everyone wherever you may be and thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and chat, and most all for all your very wonderful encouragement in 2012!!

Shaz in Oz.x

 

Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

 

God Save our Gracious Queen

(pickies courtesy of world wide web)

Hullo there everyone! 

We are enjoying beautiful summer weather here downunder and it is Boxing day, and just watched at 1pm the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race leaving from beautiful Sydney harbour! Tis a tradition on Boxing day along with Boxing day test, which also starts today! This year it is against Sri Lanka. Not much crafting going on but hopefully will start in real earnest in day or two :D

I want to thank everyone who has left good wishes and pray that you also are blessed of the LORD this Christmas New year season and good health and safety for all.

I was really blessed as were my other family members last night as we sat and listened to the speech given by our 86 year old Queen!

 A very trendy Queen too, as here she is delighted as she views her speech which was recorded in 3D for the first time this year!

I was really taken this year to her reference to the carol which over here in Oz, I had never really heard..(not being bleak or midwinter)

In The Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

It was the last verse upon which she focused: (quote below) 

Quote taken from last half of her message:

"At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child. From that day on He has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others.

"This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.

"It is my prayer this Christmas Day that His example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.

"The carol, In The Bleak Midwinter, ends by asking a question of all of us who know the Christmas story, of how God gave himself to us in humble service: 'What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part'. 

The carol gives the answer 'Yet what I can I give him - give my heart'.

"I wish you all a very happy Christmas."

 

I thrills my heart when a person with great influences stands so boldly and true to God's Word and Truth.. doesn't it?

"Long may she reign over us,

God save our Queen".

 

God bless you everyone wherever you may be, and thanks so much for popping over for a peek and chat!

Shaz in Oz.x 
PS Happy WOYWW everyone - will, God willing, be back next week.
PPS. Thursday: Right calf biopsy showed it was an SCC cancer, so had it removed today. So crafting delayed bit more.. ah well, have good book to read. :D

The Why of Christmas?

Hullo there everyone!

 At this busy time of year when we barely have time to draw breath and think of why we are involved in all this hustle and bustle? 

 I sometimes wonder if in this great busy-ness, we end up losing sight of why this season occurs so regularly at this time of year ~ this event we call Christmas.

As we send this greeting, do we stop to think why?

Some of course abbreviate it to Happy Xmas.

Let's just think on that for minute....

Mathematically "X" = an Unknown Quantity.  

What is "X" replacing?  CHRIST.

Christ is from ancient Greek: Χριστός, is a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Māšîaḥ), the Messiah , and is used as a title for Jesus, meaning the Anointed One - or Chosen One.

So Christ, the Son Of God, is most definitely not an "X" an Unknown Quantity!

..... but perhaps to those who do not believe in Him - He is an unknown quantity!

Maybe it says something more of those who use it, than anything else. 

Why?

Why was there that sparkling star so bright,

Steady over Bethlehem the first Christmas night?

Why did those wondering shepherds come?

Why or of what had the heavenly chorus sung?

Angels sang of Joy, Hope and Peace for all,

Of the babe Jesus born in lowly cattle stall

The babe, God’s only Son, born to live and die,

Bringing us God’s salvation, this is the reason Why.

Salvation which shows God’s love for man

By truly believing we fulfil Salvation’s plan.

Why? Or rather, what shall I do with Jesus?

The greatest Gift of all.

Shaz in Oz. 8..12.12

 This last question is one we all need to stop and think upon...

Until we take that gift of salvation found in the LORD Jesus Christ,

 we will not have have it!

No gift is ours till it is received. Have you received that gift?

For GOD so loved the world,

 that He gave his Only Begotten Son, JESUS,

that whosoever believes in Him,

Shall not perish but will  have everlasting life.  

John 3:16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dear LORD JESUS!

Thanks so very much everyone for being such wonderful encouragers and supporting me so often throughout this year. 

To me you are all a great blessing!

I pray the LORD will richly bless each of you and those you love this Christmas and keep you in the year ahead - till He comes,

love Shaz in Oz.x
I would like to link this post over to Little Birdee Blessings for this week where you will find a post to uplift your heart ~ see here!

PS. For those curious on my health, skin graft on left foot slowly mending. I am still not crafting but getting there. I go this week on Wed to doctor to have it checked, but think there is another on right calf next. I seem to get them in runs {so left foot, right hand and leg} then they settle down again so hope that will be it for a while (please LORD).

Thanks so very much for all your wonderful comments, you bless my heart! :D 

Update: 19.12.12 all going well for skin graft another appointment on 27.12.12 but excellent so far :D thanks for prayers. I wait on results and the LORD for verdict on right calf biopsy. 

                                                                                                                                          

(Candy results on post below ~ please click here!) 

Hi everyone - just very brief post to say wont be blogging for a wee while.

I have been laid up more than I thought with latest bit of work - small skin graft was needed for the skin cancer removal on left foot.

However, I wanted to thank all the dear blogging friends who have sent such cheering greetings - should be back in week or so, all being well :D

As I said few weeks ago, see here - "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Ps 90:12"
..and think that this is just what I am being taught at present! 
To wait on the LORD, one day at a time - as we none of know what each day which we are given will really bring.

 Thanks for popping over for peek and chat, and I pray that the LORD will God bless you and your day wherever you may be,
Shaz in Oz.x

Some pickies .. taken a while back now!

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia  -click here) flower in Mr H.'s garden, called such because of its glorious plumage!

Okay, I was boasting recently we had pretty good strawberries here is one at 49 grams - not bad, eh!

And it is surf time here everyone - well not for me, but lots of folks :D 

..and yes we do need to slip, slop, slap!

To keep away the skin cancer.

•  slip on a shirt,
• slop on the sunscreen,
• slap on hat!

Hooroo!

Candy Results, WOYWW-ers ~ LOOK SEE!

Hullo there every one - first of all apologies for delay in the draw which was supposed to be yesterday!
This weekend was an incredibly busy one both days and only just now had time tonight to do the post although the draw did take place earlier when had some assistance!
 

Enough waffle, to the matter in hand - after weeding out those who were not really Wonderful Encouragers, there were thirty entries. It was BIG THANK YOU to All the Wonderful Encouragers who have joined my blog over the two years, so this was a necessary criteria. Some received an extra entry as they had joined before the candy was announced, and put the candy on their sidebar, so bonus required - just to be fair, it was generally agreed.

Okay no peeking, now there anyone ~ all eyes shut! Must be done fair and square now!

DRUM

ROLL

tah - dah!

Hey, psst! does that look like a WOYW-er has won??? YES!  Julia will be pleased!

A BIG THANK YOU and  CONGRATULATIONS, TOO!

So Scrappy Mo - or Maureen please contact me - and apologies to everyone else - wish I owned a bank and could make everyone who encourages me a winner.. 

.. but  two other names were pulled out of the very colourful Bhutanese hat (gift from sister who visited last year)!

So would Sally H. and Mrs A. please email me as well and will send you a brayer thank you card as well!

Will not have time to do WOYWW (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday- see here) this week as have another skin cancer excision at skin drs on Tuesday, on foot this time.. hopefully it is that last for a while. It is common in Oz.

I may be able to pop around a bit, but dont think it will not have time to post!

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and chat, and may God bless your day wherever you may be!

Shaz in Oz.x 
PS and big welcome to the newest Encourager - Catherine, who makes the most amazing pieces of quilling work!